Begossi, A., P. Lopes, and R. Silvano. 2012. Co-Management of Reef Fisheries of the 1 Snapper-Grouper Complex in a Human Ecological Context in Brazil. In: G.H. Kruse, H.I. Browman, K.L. Cochrane, D. Evans, G.S. Jamieson, P.A. Livingston, D. Woodby, and C.I. Zhang (eds.), Global Progress in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks. doi: © Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks Co-Management of Reef Fisheries of the Snapper-Grouper Complex in a Human Ecological Context in Brazil Alpina Begossi Fisheries and Food Institute, ECOMAR/UNISANTA, Santos, SP; and UNICAMP: LEPAC, Paraty, and CMU, Campinas, SP, Brazil Priscila Lopes Fisheries and Food Institute, ECOMAR/UNISANTA, Santos, SP; and UFRN, Departamento de Botânica, Ecologia e Zoologia, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil Renato Silvano Fisheries and Food Institute, ECOMAR/UNISANTA, Santos, SP; and UFRGS, Departamento de Ecologia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Abstract Most commercially important reef fish are late maturing species and have slow growth, being thus vulnerable to overfishing. In Brazil, coastal artisanal fishers usually depend upon reef fishes, such as grou- pers (Serranidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae), because these fish attain higher market values compared to other fishing resources. Most of these local and small-scale coastal fishers are located in high biodiver- sity areas, such as the Atlantic forest coastal remnants. Therefore, the management of artisanal reef fisheries faces a dilemma regarding the economic and ecological contexts: to conserve fish stocks (avoid their depletion) or to catch fish to fulfill immediate economic needs. Drawing from examples of different fisheries from northeastern to southern Brazilian coastal sites, we described this dilemma and provided man- agement suggestions, aiming to allow the development of sustainable artisanal fisheries. We recorded data from 1,761 fish landings, sampled and collected 1,453 fish from these landings, and interviewed 585 fish- 2 Begossi et al.—Co-Management of Reef Fisheries ers from 14 fishing communities on the northeastern, southeastern, and southern Brazilian coast. The main reef fish caught by the studied fishers were snappers (12 species) and groupers (16 species), the former more common on the northeastern coast and the second more com- mon on the southern coast. However, some of these reef fishes showed many individuals caught below the size at first maturity, which may adversely affect the exploited fish stocks. In order to change this trend, we suggested that these reef fishes would be best managed through co-management processes, which involve the participation of fishers on where and when to fish. Managing reef fish stocks could thus gain the support of local fishers, if they contribute to the monitoring of reef fishes located close to or in their fishing spots, preferably through eco- nomic incentives. Introduction Reef fisheries are challenging to manage due to their complexity (varied fishing gear); their local scale, which makes it difficult to devise general management measures; and problems related to conciliating biodiver- sity conservation with social needs (McClanahan et al. 1997, 2009; Pauly 2006). A compounding problem is that these fisheries usually target large, highly valued reef fish, such as groupers (Serranidae) and snap- pers (Lutjanidae), which are vulnerable to recruitment overfishing due to their large size, slow growth, and late reproductive maturity (Sadovy 2001, Saenz-Arroyo et al. 2005). Reef fishes are important targets of artisanal fisheries in Latin America, especially along the tropical northeastern Brazilian coast, because they are caught by simple fishing gear (hook and line) and can attain a high market price (Costa et al. 2003; Teixeira and Ferreira 2004; Fredou et al. 2006, 2009; Francini-Filho and Moura 2008). A high diversity of fish species is caught in Brazilian artisanal fisheries (Begossi and Figueiredo 1995), but reef fishes are usually considered “noble” fish, which may induce fishers to deploy more effort to catch them (Nehrer and Begossi 2000). Marine catches in Brazil accounted for 485,000 tons in 2003 (Haimovici et al. 2006). Artisanal fisheries account for as much as 50% of Brazilian total fish production, but this amount varies according to the region. For example, on the northeastern Brazilian coast, artisanal fisheries contribute 88% of the total fish production, while on the south- eastern coast artisanal fisheries account for 34% (Vasconcellos et al. 2007). Northeast Brazil contributes about 12% of the national fish pro- duction, led by Bahia State (40% of northeastern production). Artisanal fisheries in this region use sailboats (74%) and operate in depths to 250 meters, especially due to the narrow continental shelf, which allows artisanal fishers to fish in deeper areas. Hooks and lines are often used, Global Progress in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management 3 but the use of longlines and traps has also been reported (Lessa 2006). Fredou et al. (2006) report that between 1996 and 2000, reef fisheries in northeast Brazil caught 187 fish species; lutjanids (snappers) represent 40% of the catch, including five species Ocyurus( chrysurus, Lutjanus synagris, L. analis, L. jocu, and L. vivanus). Vasconcellos et al. (2007) note the importance of snappers and their current overexploited status in northeastern Brazilian fisheries. Two species L.( vivanus and L. jocu) are described as overexploited to their maximum limits and two other species (O. chrysurus and Romboplites aurorubens) are described as overexploited (Vasconcellos et al. 2007). In southeast Brazil, artisanal fisheries encompass areas located along the shore, often shallower than in northeast. Southeastern fishers use motorized and paddle canoes, and often fish with hook and lines or set gillnets (Begossi and Figueiredo 1995). Groupers (Serranidae), especially dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) and comb grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris), are also important reef fish targets that may suffer overexploitation (Begossi and Silvano 2008, Begossi 2010). Among the several problems associated with managing artisanal fisheries in Brazil, two deserve special attention: the lack of data about fish catches and the social complexity of fishers, who are usually rural indigenous inhabitants (Begossi 2010). The lack of fish production data can be attributed to the absence of systematic sampling. For example, we lack data on what, where, or how many fish are caught, and also temporal data on fish landings (Freire et al. 2007). The local ecological knowledge of fishers (LEK) has been a useful source of information on the biology and ecology of marine resources, as shown by many studies done in tropical, temperate, and arctic oceans (Johannes 1981, Huntington 2000, Ruddle 2000, Berkes 2008). In Brazil, research on artisanal fisheries has shown the importance of fish- ers’ LEK for management, for training fishers to collaborate in research, and for validating ecological information (Silvano et al. 2006, Begossi 2008, Silvano and Valbo-Jorgensen 2008, Gerhardinger et al. 2009). The objectives of this study were to use data collected between 2002 and 2009 at 14 artisanal fishing communities in northeast, southeast, and south Brazil to (a) evaluate the main fish species caught, including data on their diet, reproduction, and size; (b) analyze the results in a human ecological context, by showing the relevance of fishers’ LEK (Lopes and Begossi 2009); (c) assess the usefulness of fishers’ LEK to obtain short-term data and to foster future collaborative efforts between researchers and locals; and finally (d) offer some suggestions on how to improve current artisanal reef fisheries management in Brazil. 4 Begossi et al.—Co-Management of Reef Fisheries Materials and methods The study sites included seven fishing communities in northeast Brazil (Mucuripe, Ponta Negra, Riacho Doce, Porto do Sauípe, Itacimirim, Arembepe, and the Tento neighborhood in the city of Valença); six fish- ing communities in southeast Brazil (Gamboa, Jaguanum, Copacabana, Itaipu, Búzios Island, and Bertioga), and one fishing community in south Brazil (Pântano do Sul). The locations of these communities along the Brazilian coast are in Table 1 and Fig. 1. Further information on these sites can be found in previous surveys (Begossi 2006, Silvano et al. 2006, Begossi and Silvano 2008, Silvano and Begossi 2010). The 14 study sites were visited on different fieldwork trips made during distinct research projects and two major periods: 1986-2002 (Gamboa, Jaguanum, and Búzios Island); and 2002-2009 (the other 11 communities, Table 1). Data collection included interviews with fish- ers, monitoring of fish landings, fish collection for identification, and biological analyses of fish stomach contents and presence of mature gonads (visible eggs) (biological sampling was performed in 2007-2009 only). The biological analyses were performed on site, in fish stores. For the interviews, we obtained verbal consent from the fishers and then followed a protocol based on an open-ended questionnaire. Interviews were performed with artisanal fishers in each community, usually at landing points or at the fishers’ houses. Most interviews focused on eth- noecology and ethnobiology and were performed with fishers older than 40 years who had lived and fished at the site for more than 25 years (groupers) or more than 10 years (snappers) (Silvano et al. 2006, Begossi and Silvano 2008). Fish